Women in historical movements and workplace in India
Women in India went from a recipient of justice in the 19th century to ardent supporters of sationalist men in the early 20th century to comrades by the 1930s and 40s. They participated in all streams of national movements - from gandhian to socialist to communist to revolutionary terrorist.
Hindu Code Bill of 1933
The Hindu Code Bills consist of the Hindu Marriage Act, the Hindu Succession Act, the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act and the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. They led to a positive development of women’s movements: Attention was focused on more issues and forms of gender injustice such as dowry deaths, rape and alcohol-related domestic violence (from 1970 to 90s various movements were launched to bring awareness to these).
Women's Movements
Women also played an important role in movements of peasants, tribes, farmers, trade unions and environmental groups. This enabled them to raise women’s issues within those areas.
Communist women activists also mobilized rural women on specific women’s issues such as rights to finance and property. Village level women’s self-defense committees were formed which also took up the issues of domestic violence or wife-beating. Another major campaign issue was rape, especially police rape. Women’s groups and organizations, along with mainstream political parties, took up the issue in a big way and a bill was introduced in 1980, to amend the existing law on rape.
Women in the Workplace
Indian women face many challenges, especially when it comes to leadership. Only about 25% of business leadership are comprised of women. Females make up just 3% of the legislative and of management and senior official positions.
Due to this low number there are attempts to increase the women’s role in local and national politics: In 2009, a new bill has been proposed that gives at least 50% of seats to women, raising the previous quota of 33%.
Indian women face many challenges, especially when it comes to leadership. Only about 25% of business leadership are comprised of women. Females make up just 3% of the legislative and of management and senior official positions.
Due to this low number there are attempts to increase the women’s role in local and national politics: In 2009, a new bill has been proposed that gives at least 50% of seats to women, raising the previous quota of 33%.
Source: http://www.catalyst.org/publication/461/women-in-the-labour-force-in-india
In the years 2009 and 2010, women constituted 26.1% of all rural workers and 13.8% of all urban workers. They are estimated to be 31.2% of all economically active individuals.
Indian females earn 62% of men’s salary for equal work. 26.2% of women compared to 9.0% of men cited a lack of role models as a barrier to advance men. Still, some companies offer 25% bonuses for female employee referrals as an effort to recruit more women.